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LAUNCESTON was hit by its third armed robbery in three days after a group of youths targeted stores at Mowbray and Kings Meadows.
On Monday about 8.30pm a barefoot male, aged in his mid-teens, entered Mowbray's Himalayan Kitchen threatening staff with what police believe was a tyre iron.
A female offsider then entered and the duo left with a small amount of cash.
Witnesses saw them get into a white, early model Mitsubishi Magna.
About 30 minutes later two males, aged in their mid to late teens, entered Blockbuster Video at Kings Meadows armed with a similar type of weapon.
They took a quantity of cash and the lone female worker's phone, fleeing in a white Magna.
"Certainly we believe both robberies were definitely linked," Launceston CIB's Detective Inspector Scott Flude said.
"It's certainly disturbing that young people are involved in this."
Inspector Flude said staff at both venues did the right thing in not resisting the offenders.
"No one was harmed or injured ... it's certainly scary if you haven't been through that process before having anyone come in and threaten you," he said.
Police have located the car they believe was used in the back streets of Mowbray.
It was not a stolen vehicle and police did not rule out the owners being involved.
"We are following specific lines of inquiry," Inspector Flude said.
The manager at Blockbuster said it was the first time in three years the store had experienced an armed robbery, however it had been broken into several times.
She said she was definitely concerned about her staff working alone in the business at night.
The woman said it was "very lucky" nobody was injured.
On Saturday a man wielding a knife robbed the Mowbray Pizza Hut on Invermay Road about 4pm.
The lone female worker handed over a quantity of cash before the man took off along Pleasant Street.
Launceston CIB ask any witnesses to contact them on 6336 3910 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.